Blanket.



No. 647,357. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

W. H. MERTZ.

BLANKET.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1900.) (No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. MERTZ, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. C. CHASE & COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

. BLANKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,857, dated April 17, 1900.

' Application filed January 2,1900. Serial No. 6. (N model.)

ters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a horse-blanket with a novel arrangement of stays and surcinglestraps whereby the blanket is properly stayed and properly held in position upon the body of the horse.

Figure 1 is a view showing the left-hand side of the blanket, the said figure being to such an across the breast of the horse.

extent in perspective as to show the under middle portion of the surcingle-straps. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the right-hand side of the blanket. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the central portion of the surcingle-straps and the device connecting the same.

The blanket (denoted by B) is and may be of any usual construct-ion and material and may be provided in the usual manner with a staypiece running entirely around the edge of the blanket. The forward or shoulder portion of the blanket is provided with a stay (indicated by the letters A A.) This stay may consist of a plurality of pieces, but is preferably formed of a single piece passing from the forward edge on one side of the blanket below the neck portion in a horizontal direction and then doubled upon itself at right angles and passing in a vertical direction over the top of the blanket at a point near the neck portion and then down upon the other side of the blanket in a vertical direction and then doubled upon itself at right angles and then passing in ahorizontal direction to a corresponding point below the neck portion.

This stay at the front edge of the blanket is provided with a suitable means, such as a strap and buckle, for fastening the blanket The rear portion of the blanket is provided with a similar stay C C. This stay likewise may be made in a plurality of pieces, but is preferably formed of a continuous piece and arranged upon the blanket in a manner corresponding to the stay A A". Both of the said stays are shown and preferably should be fastened throughout their length to the blanket; but this is not essential, it only being neces sary that they should be fastened at such points as to hold the blanket in position and resist the pull of the surcingle-straps.

The surcingle-straps D E are attached to the blanket at the points where the staypieces A A and C C are doubled upon themselves. The means employed for attaching the surcingle-straps at these points may vary. In Fig. 1 the stay A is shown as folded through an ordinary D-iron a, which affords a convenient means for cooperating with an ordinary snap hook I), attached to one end of the surcingle-strap E. In the same figure a double-loop iron 0 is shown attaching the other end of the surcingle-strap E to the stay C. This double-loop iron 0 allows the stay C to pass through one loop and the surcinglestrap through the other loop. In Fig. 2 the surcingle-strap D is shown at one end f, as attached by a loop-iron held by the fold in the stay-piece A, and at the other end as attached to the stay C by the same means 0, as shown in Fig. 1. Either one of these various fastening means at the ends of'the surcinglestraps or any combination of the same may be used. Either or both surcingle-straps D E is provided with suitable means d whereby the length of the same can be adjusted. It will be noted that each surcingle-strap is attached at both its ends upon the same side of the blanket, the surcingle-strap E being upon the left-hand side and the surcinglestrap D upon the right-hand side, and the two straps are connected together by a double-loop iron H of the shape shown in Fig. 3, one loop in the said iron being preferably larger than the other, so as to allow a more ready removal of one strap therefrom.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the stays are so arranged that any pull on either part of a surcingle-strap in the direction of the length will tend to hold the blanket more closely around the neck or the rump of the horse. It will also be seen that by folding the stays through the means a of, used for connecting the surcingle straps thereto, a very strong and firm attachment is provicIed. ..ID will a1s( "be seen tllat in. order to remove the blaflnlzet froln t e,,hrse ,it is only necessary to detach one end of one star'- cing1estra.p--a.s, for example, the end of the strap E, provided with the snap-hook Z). This and of the surcingle-strap is then run through the iron H and the blanket is ready to be removed from the horse, the surcingle-strap E being in the hand of the attendant, and the su'rcingle-strap D upon the opposite side of the blanket, since it is attached at'both ends, being prevented from swinging down'and dragging in the dirt.- This arrangement of su'rcingle-straps is of great Value in that it allows the blanket to be fitted to the horse by means of a single adjustment, by reason of' the sliding connection between the two straps. llitherto in order to adjust the blanket it has been necessary to adjust both This arrangement is of,

surcingle straps. further value in that itprovides to a certain extent for an automatic adjustment of the blanket to the shape of the horse during any movement of the horse. For example, when the horse stoops or lowers his neck so as to shorten the forward ends of the surcinglestraps, a sliding movement will take place through the iron I-I and the slack-in such portion of the strap will be taken up and deliv ered to the other portion of the straps.

It will further be seen that by reason of the arrangement of the loop-irons (It 0 f obliquely with relation to the length of the blanket and in a position at right angles to the direction of the surcingle-straps any pull exerted along -the surcingle-straps will act directly upon .the stays and there will be no twisting of the blanket or of the stays'at the point of attach- ;ment.

Having fully described my invention, what .I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1, A horse-blanket provided with a sur- .,cingle device comprising a strap attached at both ends to one side of the blanket, one end of said strap being attached to the fore portion and the other end to the rear portion of the blanket, and a strap attached at both ends to the other side of the blanket, one end of said strap being attached to the fore portion and the other end to the rear portion of the blanket, a sliding connection between the middle portions of s a.id straps, and a. de-

tachable fastening device etween one end of one strap and the blanket.

2. A 7 horse blanket having intersecting stays on each side of the blanket at. the rear portion, and intersecting stays on each side at the fore portion, a strap connecting the intersections of the stays on one side of the blanket, a strap connecting the intersections of the stays on the other side of the blanket, a sliding connection between the middle of said-straps, and a detachable fastening device between one of said straps and one end of one of said stay intersections.

3. A'horse-bl'anket provided'at its fore portion and also at its rearportion on each side with horizontally and vertically disposed intersecting stays, anda surcingle device connecting the stay intersections on one side with the stay intersections on the other side of the blanket.

4. Ahorse-blanket provided at its fore portion and also at its rear portion on eachside with horizontally and vertically disposed intersectin g stays, a strapconnectin g the intersections of the stays on one side of the blanket,

a strap connecting the intersectionsof the stay on the other side, a sliding connection between the middle of said straps, and a detachable fastening device between one end of one strap and one stay intersection.

5. A horse-blanket provided atits foreportion and also at its rear portion on each side with intersecting stays, fastening devices consisting of'loop-irons attached to the blanket at the intersection of the stays and disposed obliquely with relation to the'length of' the blanket,diagonally-arran ged surcingle-straps passing through the said loop-irons and connecting the stay intersections, whereby any pull in the direction of the length of said 'surcingle-straps will be substantially at right angles to the length of the said loop-irons and thus prevent twisting or turning of the blanket or stays at the stay intersections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0 two subscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM I-IJMERTZ. Witnesses:

GEO. WV. GREGORY, MARGARET N. DUNN. 

